Shale separator



July 2, 1940.

E. M. BEEBE SHALE SEPARATOR Filed Aug. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0W4R0 M. [A INVENTQR 0 A B A RNEY} E. M. BEEBE SHALE SEPARA'I'OR July 2, 1940.

Filed Aug. 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [OW/4R0 M BEfBf INVENTOR BY A 4 Ii Y Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED i STATES arcane 2,206,593 SHALE SEPARATOR Edward M. Beebe, Shawnee, Okla, assignor or one half to Leif Olson, Shawnee, Okla.

Application August 3, 1937, Serial No. 157,080

6 Claims.

The invention here disclosed relates particularly to the separating of shale and cuttings from the mud used in rotary drilling and as to certain features is in the nature of a continuation of or improvement on the invention; covered in the co pending Beebe shale separator patent application Ser. No. 116,558.

Special objects of the invention are to provide efi'icient apparatus for such purpose, which will operate at proper screening speed and which will utilize the fiow of mud as power for operating the same.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a thoroughly practical form of separator, in

315 which the screen will be washed. and kept in op 55 bodiment of the invention is illustrated, but as such illustration is primarily for purposes of dis,-

closure, it will be understood that-structure may be modifiedand changed all within the true intent andbroad scope or the invention as here- 30 inafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a broken plan view with parts appear= ing in section as on substantially the plane of 85 line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View of the upperend oi the ma= chine.

Fig. 4 is a View of the opposite lower end of the machine, with the discharge trough indicated as broken away.

Fig. 5 is a broken sectional view as on substantially the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken sectional detail or the reduction gear drive, substantially ason line 45 6 -5 of Fig. 3.

The mud or other fluid to be screened, in the illustration, is delivered by a chute or pipe 1, through an inlet 8, in the wall 9, forming the upper end of the casing in position to enter the 50 buckets Ill, on the tubular shaft or sleeve ll. These buckets are shown in Figs. 2 and 5, as wide shallow scoops, deeper at their outer ends, open at the front receiving ends and having closed end walls l2 at the back.

55 The bucket carrying shaft 1 I, is shown as journailed by bearings [3, on a supporting and screen carrying shaft 4. The latter is indicated as 'journalled in downwardly inclined relation in upper and lower bearings l5, It, on the casing or frame structureo-f the apparatus. 5

In the illustration, a double screen is provided in the form of an inner relatively coarse mesh cylindrical screen I1, and an outer finer mesh screen l8. In practice, the inner tubular screen may beapproximately 4; inch mesh wire and the outer screen be of approximately inch mesh Monel metal and the separation of the two screens be approximately one inch. This compound screen is mounted on the shaft by a spider l9, just back of the paddle wheel structure, Fig. 2, and from which extend the screen supporting ribs 213. At the lower end of the outer screen, a cylindrical track 2|, is provided, which rides on supporting rollers 22, Figs. 1 and l. Thus the lower end of the screen is left open to admit the trough 23, for carrying oh the wash water from a spray pipe 24, over the top of the screen. This trough is shown as supported in inwardly extended relation within the screen by the V- v.

brackeet 25, which carries the lower shaft bearing I The outer screen is removably secured in spaced relation on the inner screen as by separable surrounding clamp bands or rings 2t, and between the two screens there is shown a helical rib or vane 21', for directing and discharging material caught between the screens.

At the upper end of the inner screen there is provided an imperforate cylindrical extension 28, surrounding the buckets to receive the dis charge therefrom and to direct the same into the upper end of the inner screen.

For purposes of portability, the entire apparatus is shown as mounted on a sled base 29, and for accessibility to the screen, the casing of the machine is shown as made with a removable semi cylindrical top portion 30, and lower sub stantially vertical side walls 3!, the two sections so formed bolted together through meeting flanges at 32, substantially in the plane of the '45 inclined shaft.

The bracket 25 for the lower shaft bearing and for carrying the wash removing trough 23, is shown as attached to and carried by the upper casing section so, but this supporting bracket may be mounted on the sled base or on the lower relatively fixed portion of the casing so as not to interfere with free removal of the top of the casing, Arch-shaped frames 33, 34, are shown projecting upward from opposite ends of the sled base to carry the lower sides 3E, and the top 30, of the casing. Braces or frames of this character may be provided as well at intermediate points in the length of the machine. The rollers 22 supporting the lower end of, the screen are shown in Fig. 4 as carried by brackets 35, mounted on the lower arch frame 34.

The upper shaft bearing I5 is shown in Figs. 3 and 6, as carried by a spider form of bracket 36, on the upper end casing wall 9.

Motion at reduced speed is imparted to the screen from the bucket wheel through double reduction gearingshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, as made up of a pinion ti, on the upper end of the tubular shaft H, in mesh with a gear 38, journalled at 39, on the supporting wall s, and carrying a pinion ill, in mesh with gear ii, on the upper end of the screen shaft Hi. This train of reduction gearing may be enclosed in a suitable gear case, such as that indicated at $2.

In operation, the mud, containing shale, cut-- tings, sand, etc, enters the shaker at the gear box end and passing into the paddle boxes. causes them to rotate and through the double reduction gearing to turn the screen at muchslower speed but in the same direction. The buckets empty the fluid into the imperforate cylindrical extension at the upper end of the inner screen from whence the fluid flows downwardly over the coarse mesh screen. The heavy particles of shale pass down over this inclined screen and are discharged at the lower end into a suitable receiving pit.

After such. separation of the heavier particles, the passes through the outer screen, which is of suficiently fine mesh to remove sand and finer particles of shale. Thus the mud is com-- pletely reconditioned in two stages and in a man ner which saves the liner screen from the wear attrition which would be caused by coarse shale. The finer particles trapped between the two screens are carried out to the mouth of the shaker by the helical web between the screens.

The spray of water, steam or otherfluid at the top washes the screens and in particular keeps the exposed outer fine mesh screen from clogging. After passage through the screens, this water or other liquid caught in the inserted trough from whence it is discharged either into the shale pit or regained and recirculated.

The cleansed fluid after passagethrough the two screens is collected in a suitable pan 42, in the base of the machine from whence it may be carried away to the mud pit through a trough or conduit @3. I

i -e parts of the machine are well protected, but the screen is readily accessible upon removal or the top of the casing. When this cover portion is lifted off, the outer screen may be changed, or if required, the entire screen unit be taken out and another one substituted. 1

While described in its use as a shale shaker or separator, it is to be understood that the inventicn may be used for other purposes that terms employed herein have been used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except possibly as limitations may be imposed by the state of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character disclosed, a rotary tubular inclined screen having a substantially imperforate extension at the upper end of the same, paddle buckets journalled for rotation in said imperforate end extension of said screen and arranged in rotation of the same to deliver fluid for screening into said substantially ire perforate extension, means for delivering fluid for screening into said paddle buckets and reduction drive gearing from said paddle buckets to said rotary screen.

2. A combination as in claim 1, in which the tubular screen is carried by a rotatable shaft and in which the paddle buckets are rotatably mounted on said shaft.

3. A combination as in claim 1, in which the tubular screen is supported by a shaft at its upper end and by supporting rollers at its lower end to leave the interior of the screen open at the lower end of the same and in which a stationary trough is entered in through said open lower end of the screen.

4.. A combination as in claim 1, in which the 5,11 a machine of the character disclosed, a rotary inclined tubular screen having an imperio rate upper end portion open to receive introduced material, a paddle wheel mounted for rotation within said upper end portion of said inclined screen on a similarly inclined axis, said paddle Wheel having scoop-like buckets radiating from a common center, said buckets being deeper at the ends which are radially outermost and being open at the ends which are toward the upper end of the inclined tubular screen but closed at the ends .which are toward the lower end of the inclined screen, means for delivering fluid for screening in through said open upper end of the inclined screen into said buckets and reduction drive gear-= ing from said paddle wheel tosaid rotary screen.

6. In a machine of the character disclosed, an

clined tubular screen; journalled for rotation and having an unobstructed interior at the lower end of the same, means for delivering wash water over the top of the screen, a wash collecting trough extending from the lower end upwardly into theunobstructed interior of the screen,

means for delivering material for screening into the upper end of said screen and including a paddle wheel positioned to receive such material and mounted for rotation within the upper end of the screen and drive gearing from said paddle wheel to said screen.

EDWARD M. BEEBE. 

